GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 30th August. As Haryana gears up for its assembly elections on October 1, the state’s political landscape is witnessing a significant realignment, with a five-cornered contest shaping up. The BJP, after ending its alliance with Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), is exploring partnerships with smaller regional parties. Meanwhile, the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are preparing to go solo, and new alliances are emerging, making the election increasingly unpredictable.
A Changing Political Scenario
The BJP and Congress, the two dominant forces in Haryana, are both banking on the influential Other Backward Class (OBC) and Jat vote banks. However, the Scheduled Castes (SCs), which constitute around 20% of the state’s population, could emerge as a decisive factor. With the BJP facing a decade of anti-incumbency, the party is strategizing to overcome voter fatigue by possibly replacing half of its sitting MLAs and ministers with fresh faces, including descendants of former chief ministers and prominent sportspersons.
The BJP is also keen on forming alliances with small regional parties, including Gopal Kanda’s Haryana Lokhit Party and Venod Sharma’s Haryana Jan Chetna Party. There are also speculations that Jayant Chaudhury’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) might contest in Haryana, leveraging its influence in western Uttar Pradesh’s Jat belt to gain traction among Haryana’s Jat voters.
Congress and AAP’s Solo Strategies
The Congress, led by former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has focused on consolidating its position in the state, despite internal rivalries. The party is optimistic about its prospects, buoyed by its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it secured five out of ten seats.
AAP, on the other hand, has decided to contest all 90 assembly seats independently, breaking from its previous alliances with the JJP and Congress. The party is promoting its ‘5 guarantees,’ which include promises of free electricity, employment, education, healthcare, and a ₹1,000 monthly allowance for women above 18. AAP is particularly targeting constituencies near Delhi and Punjab, hoping to replicate its success in those states.
JJP’s Struggle for Survival
The JJP, which played a crucial role in forming the government with the BJP in 2019, is now fighting for its political survival. After severing ties with the BJP earlier this year, the JJP has seen internal turmoil, with seven out of its ten MLAs leaving the party. Dushyant Chautala, the party’s leader, has allied with Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party (ASP), aiming to combine the JJP’s Jat support base with ASP’s expected Dalit backing. However, with only three MLAs remaining in the party, including Dushyant and his mother, the JJP faces an uphill battle.
INLD and BSP’s Alliance
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the JJP’s parent party, has joined forces with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The alliance has projected INLD leader Abhay Chautala as its chief ministerial candidate. Both the INLD and JJP, led by members of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal’s family, face a crucial test in the upcoming elections. The October 4 counting day will reveal whether these new alliances can withstand the challenges posed by an unpredictable electorate and shifting political dynamics.
Conclusion
With five political fronts vying for power and an electorate that has shown a tendency to vote differently in state and national elections, the Haryana assembly polls promise to be a closely watched and fiercely contested event. The outcomes will not only determine the future leadership of Haryana but also reflect the evolving political landscape in one of India’s key states.
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